Speed the Message

■ ■ ! * Stephens' Central America. ONE OF A SERIES OF STONE MONUMENTS, COLUMNS, OR "IDOLS. ' GIVING PECULIAR CHARACTER TO THE RUINS OF COPAN.

gg^^fSjggjjg^&agM stephens\Central America. STONE MONUMENT AT COPAN-13 FEET HIGH, 4 FEET IN FRONT, 3 DEEP SCULPTURED ON ALL FOUR SIDES. A RICH AND ELABORATE SPECIMEN.

MONUMENTS AND ALTARS AT COP AN. 449 principal personages, chiefs or warriors, with their faces opposite each other, and apparently engaged in argument or negotiation. The other fourteen are divided into two equal parties, and seem to be following their leaders. Each of the two principal figures is seated cross-legged, in the oriental fashion, office or character, and on three of which the serpent forms part. Between the two principal personages is a remarkable cartouche, which reminded us strongly of the Egyptian method of giving the names of the kings or heroes in whose honor monuments were erected. The headdresses are remarkable for their curious and complicated form; the figures have all breastplates, and one of the two principal characters holds in his hand an instrument, which may, perhaps, be considered a sceptre; each of the others holds an object which can be only a subject for speculation and conjecture. It may be a weapon of war, and, if so, it is the only thing of the kind found represented at Copan. In other countries, battle-scenes, warriors, and weapons of war are among the most prominent subjects of sculpture; and from the entire absence of them here, there is reason to believe that the people were not warlike, but peaceable, and easily subdued. ******** In regard to the age of this desolate city, (Copan), I shall not offer at present any conjecture. * Nor in regard to the people who built it, or to the time when or the means by which it was depopulated, and became a desolation and ruin; whether it fell by the sword, or famine, or pestilence. * One thing I believe, that its history is graven on its monuments. No Champollion has yet brought to them the energies of his enquiring mind. Who shall read them? SPEED THE MESSAGE. (For the Improvement Era.) Go, speed the message 'round the globe. Ye valiant messengers of peace; Ye brave and fearless men of God, Bid carnage, hate and war to cease.